Briar Creek above Colony Road at Charlotte water level
River gauge, Briar Creek, North Carolina, United States
Right now
Normal for late October
Water level
- Flow
- 2.7 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
Briar Creek above Colony Road at Charlotte is at 2.12 ft, in the normal range for late October.
The median for late October is 2.07 ft, based on 30 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.05 ft above typical. It is 7.88 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 2.15 ft, a difference of −0.03 ft.
It has barely moved over the past 24 hours. In the last month it has stayed between 2.06 ft and 3.36 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 30 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 2.07 ft0.05 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 1.87 ft – 2.30 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (30 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.15 ft−0.03 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.06 ft – 3.36 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 2.05 ft – 4.92 ft
- Highest on record
- 16.09 ftAugust 27, 2008
Floating and fishing near Briar Creek above Colony Road at Charlotte
Normal flows mean predictable rapids and good access at most put-ins.
Flood stage here is 10.00 ft, 7.88 ft above the current reading. Beyond it, the National Weather Service also defines moderate and major flood stages.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16.09 ft | August 27, 2008 |
| 2 | 15.60 ft | August 27, 1995 |
| 3 | 15.41 ft | July 23, 1997 |
| 4 | 15.11 ft | June 8, 2003 |
| 5 | 14.13 ft | January 25, 2010 |
| 6 | 11.20 ft | March 2, 2007 |
| 7 | 10.69 ft | August 16, 2006 |
| 8 | 10.67 ft | September 28, 2004 |
| 9 | 10.52 ft | September 23, 2000 |
| 10 | 10.37 ft | January 23, 1999 |
Weather at the gauge
Rain in the last 3 days: 0.10 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on Briar Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Briar Creek near CharlotteRiver gauge, Briar Creek | 1.34 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 5.4 mi |
| Briar Creek at Independence Blvd at CharlotteRiver gauge, Briar Creek | 0.72 ft | Normal | ±0 | 3.0 mi |
| Briar Creek below Edwards Branch near CharlotteRiver gauge, Briar Creek | 0.96 ft | High | −0.02 ft | 2.6 mi |
| Briar Creek at Providence Road at CharlotteRiver gauge, Briar Creek | 1.17 ft | Normal | ±0 | 0.8 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Sugar Creek at Hillside Ave, CharlotteRiver gauge, Little Sugar Creek | 0.87 ft | Low | ±0 | 0.9 mi |
| Little Hope Creek at Seneca Place at CharlotteRiver gauge, Little Hope Creek | 3.05 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 1.5 mi |
| Ltl Sugar Creek at Medical Center Drain at CharlotteRiver gauge, Ltl Sugar Creek | 1.89 ft | Normal | +0.01 ft | 2.0 mi |
| Little Sugar Creek at Archdale Drain at CharlotteRiver gauge, Little Sugar Creek | 1.99 ft | Very low | −0.18 ft | 2.4 mi |
| McMullen Creek at Sharon View Road near CharlotteRiver gauge, McMullen Creek | 0.79 ft | Low | +0.01 ft | 2.5 mi |
| McMullen Creek above Lincrest Place at CharlotteRiver gauge, McMullen Creek | 1.06 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 2.6 mi |
| Edwards Branch at Sheffield Drain at CharlotteRiver gauge, Edwards Branch | 0.69 ft | Low | ±0 | 3.8 mi |
Questions and answers
Is Briar Creek above Colony Road at Charlotte higher than last year?
No, it is 0.03 ft lower than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.15 ft.
What is flood stage for Briar Creek above Colony Road at Charlotte?
The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 7.88 ft below it.
What is a normal level for Briar Creek above Colony Road at Charlotte in late October?
The median for late October is 2.07 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 1.87 ft and 2.30 ft, based on 30 years of records.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Briar Creek above Colony Road at Charlotte today?
On Oct 21, 2026, 05:20 AM EDT, the water level was 2.12 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is Briar Creek above Colony Road at Charlotte rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Down 0.05 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Briar Creek above Colony Road at Charlotte normal?
Normal for late October. Compared with 30 years of daily readings for this time of year.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:0214645022(Agency page)- Coordinates
35.17528, -80.83083(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | 2.12 ft | 2026-10-21 09:20 | Provisional |
| Flow | 2.7 cfs | 2026-10-21 09:20 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Briar Creek above Colony Road at Charlotte (usgs:0214645022). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/north-carolina/briar-creek-above-colony-road-at-charlotte
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer